Ohio State braces for a brutal 2026 slate
The Buckeyes will open their 2026 season in exactly one month, hosting Ball State in a home matchup that sets the tone for a schedule stacked with elite competition.
Preseason rankings from the US LBM Coaches Poll have already placed the Buckeyes at the summit, awarding them the No. 1 spot for the first time since 2015, a testament to the program’s recent dominance.
However, the early portion of the slate quickly escalates in difficulty, with Week 2 pitting Ohio State against Texas, currently ranked No. 4 in the same poll, while the remainder of the schedule includes perennial powerhouses such as Indiana, Michigan, Oregon, and USC.
Analysts have labeled the Buckeyes’ 2026 calendar as one of the toughest in college football, a assessment reinforced by USA TODAY Sports’ preseason rankings that highlight a concentration of top‑25 opponents.
Adding to the preparation, training camp is slated to begin on August 6, giving the coaching staff and players a compressed window to fine‑tune strategies before the first whistle blows.